David James McHale has been sentenced to four years in prison for sexually interfering with children.
Image Credit: FILE PHOTO
April 04, 2019 - 4:08 PM
KELOWNA - A child molester who sexually interfered with three children over several years is heading to prison for a long time.
David McHale, 70, pled guilty to three counts of sexual interference of a minor in 2017. He appeared in Kelowna court today, April 4, via video for his sentencing.
The courtroom was packed with onlookers as Judge Richard Hewson passed a sentence of 100 months for McHale; minus time served in custody, he'll be in prison for four years and two months.
Hewson took an hour to read through his decision, outlining McHale's record and actions. The identities of McHale's victims are protected by a publication ban.
McHale was arrested in February 2015 for sexually interfering with three children over a period of several years. He's been in custody since that time. While in custody, McHale claimed he was stabbed by a fellow inmate at the Okanagan Correctional Facility in Oliver in 2017.
On April 10, 2017 he pled guilty to one count of sexual interference of someone under 14 and two counts of sexual interference of someone under 16.
Hewson said McHale's actions showed a clear pattern of abuse. He said that without treatment, there's a risk McHale could reoffend.
He ordered McHale to serve 36, 40, and 24 month sentences consecutively, totalling 100 months or just over eight years. Since McHale has been in custody for four years, he received significant credit for time served. His actual sentence will be four years and two months.
Hewson also ordered McHale to be placed on long-term supervision after serving his sentence. McHale will be on the sex offender registry for life.
After the sentence was read, several people exited the courtroom and hugged each other.
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